Young Docker forgives Eagle Gaff

Video18-year-old Andrew Brayshaw says he wants to meet the player who laid a punch on him in last week's Derby to accept his apology.

THE man caught in the middle of his injured brother and suspended teammate spoke for the first time about the week that split WA football.

West Coast’s Hamish Brayshaw said it had been difficult in the aftermath of his younger sibling Andrew being felled by a swinging roundhouse from Andrew Gaff in a spiteful game at Optus Stadium last Sunday.

Gaff received an eight-week penalty for the incident, which left Brayshaw with mangled teeth and a fractured jaw.

“It’s been a pretty tough week but Andrew’s my brother and Gaffy is one of my good mates,” he said.

Camera IconPERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 05: Andrew Brayshaw of the Dockers leaves the field with a suspected broken jaw from contact with Andrew Gaff of the Eagles during the round 20 AFL match between the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Dockers at Optus Stadium on August 5, 2018 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Media/Getty Images)

“I’m sort of stuck in the middle, but I’m trying to support both of them as best I can and make sure Gaffy is all right and Andrew is all right.

“What happened, happened. All my family has gathered together and no one holds any judgment against Gaffy.

“Andrew is going to get better. He’s seen all the doctors and seen the dentist. But he’s going to be fine. As a club we are trying to support Gaffy as best we can but as a family we are trying to support Andrew.”

Brayshaw said he believed Gaff had acted out of character.

Camera IconHamish Brayshaw playing for East Perth.Picture: Daniel Wilkins

“I’ve only been at the club a short period of time but you get to know the person that he is and he’s such a gentle bloke,” he said.

“That would never have crossed his mind to do what he did. It’s just a bad mistake and a bad accident, but we are going to try and move past it as best we can and move on.”

Brayshaw said he intends to push ahead with a meeting between Gaff and his younger brother in coming weeks.

“I think it’s something that should happen and definitely will,” he said. “I’ve spoken to Andrew about it and he just wants to accept the apology and move on as best he can.

“He’s in the media as much as Gaffy and he doesn’t particularly like the spotlight, so he just wants to put it to bed the best he can.

“I think a meeting between the two of them will see Andrew accept that apology and hopefully that bodes well for Gaffy’s mental health as well knowing that he’s put it to bed with Andrew and they’ve let it go.”

Hamish was speaking yesterday after putting in a stunning effort in East Perth’s 114-point demolition of East Fremantle at Leederville Oval.